Digital smart real showcase warning system, method, and program

ABSTRACT

A digital smart real showcase warning system (100) comprises a showcase (110), a freezing machine (20), a showcase control unit (18), and a portable device (70), wherein a control unit (81) of the showcase control unit (18) inputs a temperature of the showcase (110) over time, and determines that a freezing function for the showcase (110) is failing based on the inputted temperature, the control unit (81) calculates an expected date and time of an increase to a warning temperature (an increase in temperature of a product in the showcase (110) to a predetermined temperature so high as to be unsuitable for refrigerating and freezing), and the control unit (81) causes a notifying means (87) to warning-display the expected date and time and to transmit warning information to the portable device (70), whereby the occurrence of a product loss can be prevented.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a digital smart real showcase warningsystem, method, and program capable of preventing occurrence of aproduct loss due to a failure, a gas leakage, and frosting, etc., of ashowcase, a refrigerator-freezer, and freezing mechanical equipment,etc.

BACKGROUND ART

In a store such as a supermarket or convenience store, showcases todisplay drinks and foods, etc., while refrigerating or freezing them areused. A freezing and refrigerating showcase to be installed in a storesuch as a supermarket is equipped with a freezing device, which blowscold air into the chamber of the showcase displaying products from anair outlet to cool the inside of the chamber to a predeterminedtemperature, and sucks the blown cold air from an air inlet and coolsand discharges it again as cold air into the chamber.

A cooling temperature inside the chamber differs depending on the kindof product stored in the chamber, and an in-chamber temperature is setfor each showcase. This setting of a target temperature inside thechamber is performed by a freezing and refrigerating showcase controllerinstalled for each showcase.

Once a target temperature is set, an in-chamber temperature is detected,and a solenoid valve of the freezing device is controlled to open orclose for a temperature control so that the in-chamber temperaturebecomes close to the target temperature.

PTL 1 describes a failure determination system comprising an in-chambertemperature sensor that inputs a temperature inside the chamber of ashowcase over time, a failure determination unit that determines theshowcase to be failing based on the inputted temperature, and a displayunit that notifies warning information when the failure determinationunit determines a failure (Paragraphs 0023 to 0051 and FIG. 1 to FIG.6).

PTL 2 describes a cooling/freezing device comprising a cooling tank thatstores a cooling fluid and cools and freezes a to-be-cooled object byimmersing the to-be-cooled object in the cooling fluid, and atemperature detector that detects a temperature of the cooling fluid inthe cooling tank, and configured, in order to prevent the temperature ofthe cooling fluid from rising to a warning temperature or higher due toa failure, etc., and causing quality deterioration of the to-be-cooledobject, so that a temperature to of the cooling fluid is detected ineach predetermined detection period by the temperature detector, apredicted time T required until the cooling fluid reaches a warningtemperature tA from a detection time is calculated, and when a deviationtA-tn between the warning temperature tA and the detected temperature toreaches a predetermined temperature or less due to a failure, etc., thepredicted time T is displayed on a warning predicted time display unit(Paragraphs 0001 to 0012, FIG. 1, and FIG. 2).

PTL 3 describes a failure cause estimating device for a case coolingsystem that does not perform failure determination during a defrostingoperation (Paragraph 0055).

PTL 4 describes a refrigerator that does not perform failuredetermination during a defrosting operation (Paragraph 0042).

PTL 5 describes a delivery apparatus management system comprising atemperature sensor to detect an in-chamber temperature inside a coldstorage, a temperature history storing unit in which an in-chambertemperature detected by the temperature sensor is sequentially stored asin-chamber temperature history information, and a failure/componentreplacement predicting unit that activates a notifying buzzer/notifyinglamp when an in-chamber temperature curve being in-chamber temperaturehistory information of the cold storage stored in the temperaturehistory storing unit deviates by a certain level from an initial value(Paragraphs 0050, 0053, and 0063, FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and FIG. 16).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   [PTL 1] JP H11-337242 A-   [PTL 2] JP H06-137747 A-   [PTL 3] JP 2001-91125 A-   [PTL 4] JP 2015-48998 A-   [PTL 5] JP 2004-251508 A

Non Patent Literature

-   [NPL 1] “Project values in a series,” [online], Microsoft,    [retrieved on Aug. 13, 2017], Internet    <URL:https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Project-values-in-a-series-1bfe3ea3-c779-4552-9e6d-e0280c681a2a?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US>

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, with such conventional showcases, because there is only afunction to notify occurrence of a failure, when the refrigerating andfreezing function of the showcase fails, the response may not be intime. For example, notification, etc., is performed after the failureoccurs, so that even if a repair worker quickly responds to repair theshowcase, the repair cannot be performed in time, and the product isoften disposed of under the present circumstances. Even if a warningpredicted time described in PTL 2 is displayed, to significantly measurea temperature change amount across a detection period, a minimum of thedetection period must be secured, and for example, when the detectionperiod is set to 30 minutes, in this period, the displayed predictedtime does not change, so that it includes a display error of up to 30minutes as time proceeds.

An object of the present invention is to provide a digital smart realshowcase warning system, method, and program capable of preventingoccurrence of a product loss in a showcase or the like.

Solution to Problem

A digital smart real showcase warning system according to the presentinvention comprises a temperature inputting means that inputs atemperature inside the chamber of a showcase, a refrigerator, or afreezer (hereinafter, referred to as a “showcase or the like”) overtime, a failure determining means that determines the showcase or thelike to be failing based on the temperature inputted, a calculatingmeans that calculates an expected date and time of an increase intemperature of a product in chamber of the showcase or the like to awarning temperature being a predetermined temperature so high as to beunsuitable for refrigerating or freezing when the failure determiningmeans determines a failure, and a notifying means that notifies warninginformation including the expected date and time calculated by thecalculating means.

With this configuration, before an increase to a warning temperature, anexpected date and time of the increase to the warning temperature can bedisplayed for warning. A related person can make a proper responseaccording to the degree of urgency, so that occurrence of a product lossis prevented.

The digital smart real showcase warning system according to the presentinvention comprises an outdoor air temperature inputting means thatinputs outdoor air temperature information, an outdoor air temperaturepredicting means that predicts a future predicted outdoor airtemperature from outdoor air temperature information inputted by theoutdoor air temperature inputting means, and a control means thatcontrols a showcase temperature based on the predicted outdoor airtemperature predicted by the outdoor air temperature predicting means.

With this configuration, the showcase is controlled not by following anoutdoor air temperature but based on an outdoor air temperaturepredicted in advance, so that the showcase is quickly and properlycontrolled, and accordingly, the showcase can be controlled with minimumnecessary energy.

When the temperature deviates from a normal temperature change pattern,the failure determining means determines that the showcase or the likeis failing, which enables performing a more accurate failuredetermination by observing the temperature change pattern.

In addition, when an increase in the temperature is a change intemperature caused by defrosting in the showcase or the like, thefailure determining means does not determine the temperature increase asa failure, which enables excluding a defrosting period from failuredetermination conditions, and accordingly, a more accurate warningdisplay is realized.

In addition, the digital smart real showcase warning system comprises astoring means that stores calendar information in which changes in thetemperature are accumulated, and the failure determining meansdetermines a failure when a difference between the calendar informationread out from the storing means and the temperature is greater than apredetermined value, which enables using a variable value of pasttemperature records as a threshold for failure determination andpreventing erroneous warning, when the temperature tends to slightlyincrease as in a time period involving an increase in the number ofcustomers, by the threshold for failure determination also becominghigher, and accordingly, an accurate failure determination is realized.

The notifying means can quickly notify a related person at a remote siteof the degree of urgency by transmitting the warning information to aterminal device that a person who maintains the showcase or the like cankeep with him/her.

In addition, the digital smart real showcase warning system comprises astoring means that stores past outdoor air temperatures, and bypredicting a predicted outdoor air temperature based on data stored inthe storing means, the outdoor air temperature predicting means canpredict the future from a current outdoor air temperature by referringto how the temperature changed with respect to a current time in thepast by using past data.

The control means can perform a fine energy-saving control according toa deviation of the showcase temperature from a target temperature bycontrolling operation of the showcase according to atemperature-dependent control coefficient being a control coefficientaccording to the deviation.

By predicting a predicted outdoor air temperature for a time,corresponding to a length of a refrigerant pipe connecting the showcaseand a freezing machine, ahead, the outdoor air temperature predictingmeans can control the showcase based on the predicted outdoor airtemperature for the time, corresponding to the length of the refrigerantpipe, ahead (future), so that the showcase is quickly and properlycontrolled, and accordingly, the showcase can be controlled with minimumnecessary energy.

In addition, the digital smart real showcase warning system comprises anindoor temperature inputting means that inputs indoor temperatureinformation, an indoor humidity inputting means that inputs indoorhumidity information, and an indoor enthalpy predicting means thatpredicts a predicted indoor enthalpy being a future total wet airheating value of indoor air from an indoor temperature inputted from theindoor temperature inputting means and an indoor humidity inputted fromthe indoor humidity inputting means, and by controlling a showcasetemperature based on an indoor enthalpy predicted by the indoor enthalpypredicting means, the control means predicts an indoor enthalpy andcontrols the showcase based on the predicted outdoor air temperature andindoor enthalpy, so that by reflecting an estimation result of apredicted heat load in showcase control, a highly effective showcaseenergy-saving control is realized.

By controlling the showcase based on, as the predicted outdoor airtemperature, a predicted bias outdoor air temperature obtained by addinga bias temperature for correcting a high temperature around thecondenser to the predicted air outdoor temperature, the control meanscan perform a more proper showcase control also in consideration of ahigh outdoor air temperature around the condenser by using, as thepredicted outdoor air temperature, a predicted bias outdoor airtemperature around the condenser higher in temperature than an outdoorair temperature.

A digital smart real showcase warning method according to the presentinvention comprises a temperature inputting step of inputting atemperature inside the chamber of a showcase or the like over time, afailure determining step of determining that the showcase or the like isfailing based on the temperature inputted, a calculating step ofcalculating an expected date and time of an increase in temperature of aproduct in chamber of the showcase or the like to a warning temperaturebeing a predetermined temperature so high as to be unsuitable forrefrigerating or freezing when the failure determining step determines afailure, and a notifying step of notifying warning information includingthe expected date and time calculated by the calculating step.

Further, the present invention provides a program to make a computerfunction as a digital smart real showcase warning system comprising atemperature inputting means that inputs a temperature inside the chamberof a showcase or the like over time, a failure determining means thatdetermines the showcase or the like to be failing based on thetemperature inputted, a calculating means that calculates an expecteddate and time of an increase in temperature of a product in chamber ofthe showcase or the like to a warning temperature being a predeterminedtemperature so high as to be unsuitable for refrigerating or freezingwhen the failure determining means determines a failure, and a notifyingmeans that notifies warning information including the expected date andtime calculated by the calculating means.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, when a showcase or the like failsand the in-chamber temperature abnormally rises, by warning-displayingan expected date and time of an increase in in-chamber temperature to awarning temperature, the degree of the failure is displayed for warningin an easy-to-understand manner, and a proper response according to thedegree of urgency can be made, so that a product loss can be prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a digital smart real showcasewarning system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a controldevice of the digital smart real showcase warning system according tothe embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a showcase of the digital smartreal showcase warning system according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing digital smart real showcase warningprocessing of the digital smart real showcase warning system accordingto the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an energy-saving control operation of thedigital smart real showcase warning system according to the embodimentof the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment to carryout the present invention isdescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital smartreal showcase warning system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The present embodiment is an example of application to an airconditioning warning system, and an air conditioning control is notessential for the present invention.

[Overall Configuration]

As shown in FIG. 1, a digital smart real showcase warning system 100comprises an outdoor air temperature input unit 11 (outdoor airtemperature inputting means), an outdoor air temperature table 12(storing means), an outdoor air temperature predicting unit 13 (outdoorair temperature predicting means), an indoor temperature input unit 14,an indoor humidity input unit 15, an indoor enthalpy table 16 (storingmeans), an indoor enthalpy predicting unit 17 (enthalpy predictingmeans), a showcase control unit 18 (control means), and an airconditioning control unit 19 (control means).

An outdoor thermometer 20, an indoor thermometer 30, an indoorhygrometer 40, a showcase 50, and an air conditioner 60 are describedfor illustration of the digital smart real showcase warning system 100.

The indoor thermometer 30 is a temperature sensor to detect atemperature of indoor air. The indoor hygrometer 40 is a humidity sensorto detect a humidity of indoor air.

<Outdoor Air Temperature Predicting Unit 13>

The outdoor air temperature input unit 11 inputs a current outdoor airtemperature from the outdoor thermometer 20.

The outdoor air temperature table 12 stores past outdoor airtemperatures for prediction of an outdoor air temperature.

Here, the “outdoor air temperature” in this description means an airtemperature of the outside of a building, and is equal to an airtemperature that a meteorological agency issues in principle, however,it is assumed to fluctuate or vary locally.

The outdoor air temperature predicting unit 13 predicts an outdoor airtemperature and passes the predicted air temperature to the showcasecontrol unit 18 and the air conditioning control unit 19.

For the outdoor air temperature prediction, there are methods; a <<pastdata-using prediction method>> in which an outdoor air temperature ispredicted by using past data, and an <<external data-using predictionmethod>> the future is predicted from an outdoor air temperature byusing data of an external agency.

<<Past Data-Using Prediction Method>>

The outdoor air temperature predicting unit 13 predicts how thetemperature will change (whether the temperature will increase ordecrease, and the degree of the increase or decrease) in the future (forexample, in how many minutes). In the outdoor air temperature table 12,outdoor air temperature data at, for example, half-hour intervals overthe past one year for checking temperature changes to find how thetemperature changed with respect to a current time in the past isstored. Based on past data read out from the outdoor air temperaturetable 12, the outdoor air temperature predicting unit 13 predicts thefuture from a current outdoor air temperature by referring to how thetemperature changed with respect to a current time in the past. This isspecifically described below.

The outdoor air temperature predicting unit 13 stores outdoor airtemperatures at, for example, half-hour intervals in the past one yearin the outdoor air temperature table 12 in advance, and predicts anoutdoor air temperature by reading out the stored outdoor airtemperature as an outdoor air temperature predicted value.

Generally, in a case where air temperatures in each time period are justtallied up and used, variations among days and times are large, and whenobtaining a future predicted value from meteorological data with thelarge variations, accuracy becomes insufficient. Therefore, instead ofusing record values of air temperatures in each time period as they are,the outdoor air temperature predicting unit 13 predicts an outdoor airtemperature by the following methods (1) to (4) and stores the predictedoutdoor air temperature in the outdoor air temperature table 12.

(1) Air temperature record values (for example, at intervals of 30minutes) in a target region are acquired. (2) Meteorological data of thetarget region is acquired. (3) A reference curve showing a temperaturechange in each time period (for example, a curve showing changes from aminimum temperature to a maximum temperature, for each region) iscreated. Specifically, for each region, outdoor air temperatures inrespective time periods from 0:00 to 24:00 on each day in a year andtemperature changes in each of the time periods are stored as referencecurves. Even though the outdoor air temperature on a target day differsyear by year, by statistically accumulating the outdoor air temperaturesas past data, a temperature change in each time period on the target daycan be represented by a reference curve showing a temperature change ina target time period. In the outdoor air temperature table 12, airtemperature record values and reference curves in a target region arestored (accumulated).

(4) From an acquired outdoor air temperature and temperature change ineach time period on the target day represented by the reference curve,an outdoor air temperature predicted value in each time period iscalculated. That is, the acquired outdoor air temperature is predictedto change with a temperature change gradient shown by the referencecurve in a next time period (for example, in one hour; except for after5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, etc., which are calculated by linearinterpolation). For example, it is assumed that an outdoor airtemperature table 12 as shown in Table 1 described later has beenobtained. A change amount between the outdoor air temperature of “31.0°C.” at 10 a.m. and the outdoor air temperature of “31.5° C.” at 11 a.m.in Table 1 (in detail, a gradient of a temperature change shown by thereference curve) is assumed to be substantially constant in each timeperiod on each day in each season, and to obtain a value for, forexample, one hour later, a value obtained by adding this temperaturechange amount of “0.5” to an acquired outdoor air temperature isregarded as a predicted value one hour ahead. For 15 minutes later, avalue obtained by adding “0.5/4” is regarded as a predicted value 15minutes ahead.

The outdoor air temperature predicting unit 13 predicts a future (for,for example, one hour ahead) outdoor air temperature by using a currentoutdoor air temperature and the past data (here, past record values andthe reference curve in each time period) stored in the outdoor airtemperature table 12. In the case described above, to obtain an outdoorair temperature after 30 minutes, by adding (subtracting) ½ of atemperature change shown by the reference curve to (from) the currentoutdoor air temperature, an outdoor air temperature predicted valueafter 30 minutes is obtained. When obtaining a value after 15 minutes orafter 2 hours or more, an outdoor air temperature predicted value can beobtained by the same method.

In this way, the outdoor air temperature predicting unit 13 creates areference curve representing changes in air temperature per a day basedon past air temperature record values, and predicts an air temperaturebased on the reference curve. The outdoor air temperature predictingunit 13 does not regard an average value or a median value of past airtemperature record values as a current air temperature, but predicts anair temperature according to a tendency of a change in air temperatureper a day based on the change in temperature stored in the outdoor airtemperature table 12, so that prediction accuracy can be improved.

<<External Data-Using Prediction Method>>

As described in the <<past data-using prediction method>> describedabove, the use of past data for prediction is a mere example, and themethod is not limited to this. For example, the outdoor air temperaturepredicting unit 13 can also adopt the following <<external data-usingprediction method>>.

The outdoor air temperature predicting unit 13 predicts an outdoor airtemperature by using, for example, a temperature forecast for a targetday issued by a meteorological agency. The outdoor air temperaturepredicting unit 13 predicts a future outdoor air temperature byreferring to a change in the temperature forecast (temporaldifferentiation, that is, a tendency of a temperature change) issued bya meteorological agency, with respect to a current outdoor airtemperature. For example, the outdoor air temperature predicting unit 13can receive data (meteorological data) including forecasted valuesissued by a meteorological agency or a meteorological company byaccessing a computer of a meteorological agency or a meteorologicalcompany.

<Indoor Enthalpy Predicting Unit 17>

The indoor enthalpy table 16 stores past indoor enthalpies forprediction of an indoor enthalpy (refer to Table 1).

The indoor enthalpy predicting unit 17 predicts an indoor enthalpy byreferring to the indoor enthalpy table 16. Specifically, the indoorenthalpy predicting unit 17 predicts an enthalpy (referred to as aspecific enthalpy as well) being a total wet air heating value of indoorair based on an inputted indoor air temperature and humidity and a tablevalue in the indoor enthalpy table 16. An enthalpy in the presentembodiment represents an enthalpy that 1 kg of a substance (air) has,and a unit for the enthalpy is (kJ/kg D.A.).

<Showcase Control Unit 18>

The showcase control unit 18 controls a temperature to freeze orrefrigerate a showpiece in a showcase. Specifically, it is desirable toperform an energy-saving control of, for example, a freezing machine ora refrigerating machine, etc. For example, a control rate is calculatedand programmed in advance based on average salesroom temperatures andspecific enthalpy values (total air heating value) in each month, byopening hours and non-opening hours, and by daytime and nighttime, etc.,and a freezing or refrigerating operation is controlled for energysaving by an amount corresponding to the control rate.

In addition, the showcase control unit 18 predicts a future predictedoutdoor air temperature for a time, corresponding to a length of therefrigerant pipe 130 (refer to FIG. 2), ahead, from inputted outdoor airtemperature information, and controls the temperature of the showcase 50based on the predicted outdoor air temperature (described in detailbelow).

<Air Conditioning Control Unit 19>

According to the present embodiment, an operation rate of the showcasecontrol unit 18 (hereinafter, this operation rate is referred to as a“showcase operation rate”) that controls a temperature to freeze orrefrigerate a showpiece in the showcase is detected, and when theshowcase operation rate exceeds a predetermined value, by suppressing orstopping the energy-saving control of the air conditioner 60, atemperature in a salesroom in which the showcase is installed is loweredand the showcase operation rate is lowered to the predetermined value orless, whereby storewide energy saving is realized. A case where thetemperature in the salesroom increases to an unintended temperature isassumed to be, for example, a case where the system does not measure ahumidity in the salesroom and cannot detect that the specific enthalpyvalue (total air heating value) is high, and therefore, an overload ofthe showcase control cannot be detected only from a temperature, or acase where the air-conditioning control cannot catch up with a suddenincrease in the number of customers.

The air conditioning control unit 19 calculates a control rate for anenergy-saving control of the air conditioner 60, and performs theenergy-saving control of the air conditioner 60 according to thecalculated control rate without excess and deficiency. In the control,the air conditioner 60 may be stopped (turned off) in a predeterminedpattern, or may be inverter-controlled.

The outdoor air temperature predicting unit 13, the indoor enthalpypredicting unit 17, the showcase control unit 18, and the airconditioning control unit 19 described above are constructed by anarithmetic control unit such as a personal computer. The arithmeticcontrol unit consists of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like,controls the entire system, and is made to function as a digital smartreal showcase warning system by executing an air conditioningenergy-saving control program.

The outdoor air temperature table 12 and the indoor enthalpy table 16described above are stored in a storing unit (storing means) such as anonvolatile memory or an external storage device, etc.

[Configuration of Showcase Control Unit]

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of theshowcase control unit 18 of the digital smart real showcase warningsystem 100.

The showcase control unit 18 is installed, for example, for eachshowcase 110, and performs a control for cooling to a target temperaturesuitable for products displayed on store shelves. The showcase controlunit 18 may collectively control a plurality of showcases 110.

As shown in FIG. 2, the showcase control unit 18 comprises a controlunit 81 (failure determining means, calculating means), a storing unit82 (storing means), an input unit 83, a display unit 84, a communicationunit 85, an interface (I/F) unit 86, and a notifying means 87 such as alamp or buzzer connected via the I/F unit 86. Into the I/F unit 86,temperature information from a temperature sensor 131 (described later)that detects a temperature of the showcase 10 is inputted. A controlsignal to control a compressor 121 is outputted through the I/F unit 86.

The control unit 81 consists of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or thelike, controls the entire showcase 110, and reads out a control program,etc., stored in advance in the storing unit 82, and makes the CPUfunction as a digital smart real showcase warning system by executing adigital smart real showcase warning program.

The control unit 81 detects a temperature of the showcase 50 andperforms a temperature control by controlling opening or closing of asolenoid valve 113 of a freezing machine 120 so that the detectedtemperature becomes close to a target temperature.

The control unit 81 inputs a temperature of the showcase 50 over time,and determines that a freezing function for the showcase 50 is failingbased on the inputted temperature.

When the temperature of the showcase 50 deviates from a normaltemperature change pattern, the control unit 81 determines that thefreezing function for the showcase 50 is failing. When a temperatureincrease of the showcase 59 is a temperature change caused by defrostingof the showcase 50, etc., the control unit 81 does not determine this asa failure.

The control unit 81 calculates an expected date and time of an increaseto a warning temperature (an increase in temperature of a product in theshowcase 50 to a predetermined temperature so high as to be unsuitablefor refrigerating or freezing).

The control unit 81 determines a failure when a difference betweencalendar information (information in which changes in temperature of theshowcase 50 are accumulated) read out from the storing unit 82 and atemperature of the showcase 50 is greater than a predetermined value.For example, the showcase temperature is compared with calendarinformation having an experimentally and relatively high correlation,such as a temperature at the same time on the same day in the same monthof last year, or a temperature at the same time on the same day of lastmonth, etc.

The control unit 81 performs warning display (displays the expected dateand time) by the notifying means 87. The control unit 41 transmits thewarning information to a portable device (terminal device) 70 throughthe communication unit 85.

The storing unit 82 stores, in addition to the control program describedabove, for example, parameters, etc., to be used by the control unit 81to give warning, in advance. In addition, the storing unit 82 storescalendar information in which changes in temperature of the inside ofthe showcase 50 are accumulated. For example, temperatures on each dayand month in each year, temperatures on each date in each month, dailytemperatures for each week, hourly temperatures for each day areaccumulated. Additionally, the storing unit 82 stores information oncontrol of the showcase 50, information on temperatures of store shelvestransmitted from the temperature sensor 131, and identificationinformation of the portable device 70.

The input unit 83 is an operation unit to input a set temperature, etc.,of the showcase 50, and is, for example, a touch panel or a plurality ofkeys and buttons, etc. The input unit 83 accepts an input operation toinstruct, for example, a set temperature and an operation mode, etc., ofthe showcase 50.

The display unit 84 displays a current state and a setting state, etc.,of the digital smart real showcase warning system 100.

The communication unit 85 transmits and receives data to and from theportable device 70 through a base station.

The interface (I/F) unit 86 coordinates levels and forms of signals tobe inputted into and outputted from the showcase control unit 18.

The notifying means 87 notifies warning information of the showcase 50by warning using light emission by a light emitting element (LED lamp,etc.) or sound/voice. The notifying means 87 notifies warninginformation including the calculated expected date and time. The displayof the notifying means 87 may be a display by the display unit 84.

In the present embodiment, a temperature sensor 131 is installed at anair outlet 111, and a sensor temperature detected by this temperaturesensor 131 is regarded as a temperature of the showcase 50. Theattaching location of the temperature sensor 131 and the number ofattached temperature sensors 131 are not limited to this example. Byinstalling temperature sensors 131 at various points (for example, onthe respective store shelves) inside the showcase 50 and directlydetecting temperatures inside the showcase 50 by these temperaturesensors 131, a more accurate control is realized.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a showcase of the digital smartreal showcase warning system 100. The present embodiment is an exampleof application to a warning system of a refrigerating and freezingshowcase installed in a store.

As shown in FIG. 3, the digital smart real showcase warning system. 100comprises a showcase 50, a freezing machine 120, a refrigerant pipe 130,and a showcase control unit 18. The showcase control unit 18 controlsthe entire digital smart real showcase warning system 100, and controlsthe freezing machine 120, etc., for the showcase 50. The installationlocation of the showcase control unit 18 is not limited to this example.For example, the showcase control unit 18 may be installed in a machineroom 110 b at a bottom portion of a showcase main body 50 a, or may beinstalled on a back surface of the showcase main body 50 a, or at alocation away from the showcase main body 50 a.

[Showcase and Freezing Machine]

The showcase 50 is installed in a store such as a supermarket orconvenience store, and displays products to be cooled, such as drinksand foods, etc.

The showcase 50 comprises a showcase main body 50 a having a productstoring space, and an air outlet 111 to blow out cold air downward isformed at an upper portion of the showcase main body 50 a, and an airinlet 112 to suction cold air that has descended along an air curtain isformed at a lower portion. At the bottom portion of the showcase mainbody 50 a, as the machine room 110 b, a solenoid valve 113 provided inthe refrigerant pipe 130, an expansion valve 114 that changes ahigh-pressure liquid refrigerant into a low-pressure liquid, and a fanmotor 115 that circulates the cold air are provided. The showcase 50comprises, at the back surface side of the showcase main body 50 a, acooler (evaporator) 116 that evaporates the low-pressure liquidrefrigerant that has been changed into a low-pressure liquid by theexpansion valve 114 while drawing heat from the low-pressure liquidrefrigerant.

The showcase 50 comprises, in the product storing space of the showcasemain body 50 a, shelf plates 117 and a bottom plate 118 being storeshelves, and an air curtain 119 covering the product storing space.

The inside of the showcase 50 is cooled to a temperature suitable forproducts to be displayed on the shelf plates 117 and the bottom plate118 (hereinafter, referred to as store shelves).

At the air outlet 111, a temperature sensor 131 that detects atemperature of the store shelves of the showcase 50 (hereinafter,referred to as a temperature of the showcase 50) is provided. The airoutlet 111 is a place where a temperature closer to a temperature set asa target is detected, and a sensor temperature detected by thetemperature sensor 131 is regarded as a temperature of the showcase 50.An installation location of the temperature sensor 131 and the number ofattached temperature sensors 131 are not limited to this example.

The freezing machine 120 is connected to the showcase main body 50 a viathe refrigerant pipe 130. The freezing machine 120 comprises acompressor 121, a condenser 122, and a condenser cooling fan 123. Thecompressor 121 compresses a gaseous body at a low pressure returned fromthe refrigerant pipe 130 into a high-temperature high-pressure (forexample, 70° C. to 80° C.) gaseous body. By increasing the pressure ofthe refrigerant, the compressor 121 enables the refrigerant to be easilychanged into a liquid by the condenser 122, and creates a refrigerantflow. The condenser 122 changes the refrigerant into a high pressureliquid refrigerant (for example, 30° C. to 40° C.) by drawing heat fromthe high-temperature high-pressure gaseous refrigerant. The condensercooling fan 123 cools the condenser 122 by blowing outdoor air to thecondenser 122.

The freezing machine 120 can cool a plurality of showcases 50 byconnecting the refrigerant pipe 130 to the plurality of showcases 50.

The digital smart real showcase warning system 100 composes a freezingcycle enabling refrigerating or freezing by circularly connecting thecompressor 121, the solenoid valve 113, the expansion valve 114, thecooler 116, and the condenser 122. As the compressor 121, for example, arotary type, scroll type, or reciprocating type compressor can be used.

Hereinafter, operation of the digital smart real showcase warning system100 configured as described above is described.

[Showcase Warning Control Operation]

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing digital smart real showcase warningprocessing of the digital smart real showcase warning system 100. Thisflow is carried out by executing a digital smart real showcase warningprogram by the control unit 81 (refer to FIG. 2) of the showcase controlunit 18 of the digital smart real showcase warning system 100.

First, in Step S1, the showcase control unit 18 takes in a temperatureof the showcase 50 detected by the temperature sensor 131 (refer to FIG.3).

In Steps S2 to S6, a control to maintain the temperature of the showcase50 at a temperature in a certain range (a target temperature between alower limit temperature and an upper limit temperature) suitable forpreservation of fresh fish and dressed meat is performed.

In Step S2, the control unit 81 opens the solenoid valve 113 of thefreezing machine 120 (refer to FIG. 3). Cold air is blown into theshowcase 50 to refrigerate products (here, fresh fish and dressed meat).

In Step S3, whether or not the detected current temperature of theshowcase 50 is lower than the lower limit temperature is determined.While the temperature of the showcase 50 is higher than the lower limittemperature (Step S3: No), the process returns to the above-describedStep S3. The compressor 121 operates and continuously supplies cold airinto the showcase 50.

When the showcase temperature is lower than the lower limit temperature(Step S3: Yes), the solenoid valve 113 of the freezing machine 120 isclosed in Step S4.

In Step S5, whether or not the current temperature of the showcase 50 ishigher than the upper limit temperature is determined. While the currenttemperature of the showcase 50 is lower than the upper limit temperature(Step S5: No), the process returns to Step S5 described above.

When the current temperature of the showcase 50 is higher than the upperlimit temperature (Step S5: Yes), in Step S6, the control unit 81 opensthe solenoid valve 113 of the freezing machine 120. The processing inand after Step S7 is the present showcase warning processing. When theshowcase 50 is not failing, the following Steps S8 to S10 are skipped,and by returning to the above-described Step S3 again, the freezingoperation is continued. Accordingly, the temperature inside the showcase50 is controlled within a certain range suitable for preservation offresh fish and dressed meat.

Here, the cooling temperature inside the showcase 50 differs dependingon the kind of stored product, and is set for each showcase 50. A targettemperature inside the showcase 50 is set by the input unit 83. Thecontrol unit 81 performs a target temperature control to maintain thecooling temperature inside the showcase 50 at a temperature between thelower limit temperature and the upper limit temperature. As the settarget temperature becomes lower, a heat radiation amount increases andan actual temperature of the showcase 50 becomes slightly higher than acalculated displayed temperature. Therefore, the target temperature isset in consideration of the relationship between the target temperatureand the heat radiation amount.

In Step S7, the control unit 81 determines whether or not thetemperature of the showcase 50 has deviated from a normal temperaturechange pattern. When the temperature of the showcase 50 does not deviatefrom the normal temperature change pattern (Step S7: No), the processreturns to the above-described step S3, and when the temperaturedeviates from the normal temperature change pattern (Step S7: Yes), theprocess advances to Step S8.

The case where the temperature of the showcase 50 deviates from thenormal temperature change pattern is a case where the freezing functionof the freezing machine 120 is failing. When the freezing function ofthe freezing machine 120 fails, the temperature of the showcase 50deviates from the normal temperature change pattern, and the temperatureof the showcase 50 increases. The above-described freezing functionfailure includes a failure of the compressor 121, a refrigerant leakagefrom the refrigerant pipe 30, a failure of the fan motor 15, and afailure of the condenser cooling fan 23.

That is, an abnormal temperature increase of the showcase 50 is atemperature increase of the showcase 50 that occurs although thesolenoid valve 113 of the freezing machine 120 is opened (Step S6). Atemperature increase of the showcase 50 in spite of an open state of thesolenoid valve 13 of the freezing machine 120 can be determined as afailure of the freezing function of the freezing machine 120. In otherwords, the “normal temperature change pattern” of the temperature of theshowcase 50 is a pattern in which the temperature changes fromincreasing to decreasing when the solenoid valve 113 of the freezingmachine 120 changes from a closed state to an open state during atemperature increase of the showcase 50. The control unit 81 determinesa failure of the freezing function of the freezing machine 120 bycomparing the normal temperature change pattern and an actualtemperature change pattern. For example, the control unit 81 determinesa failure when a difference between calendar information read out fromthe storing unit 82 (information in which temperature changes of theshowcase 50 are accumulated) and the temperature of the showcase 50 isgreater than a predetermined value.

The normal temperature change pattern also includes a temperature changepattern during a defrosting operation. For the showcase 50, a defrostingoperation by which the showcase is temporarily increased in temperatureat regular intervals for defrosting is performed in some cases. Atemperature increase during the defrosting operation is excluded fromwarning display. When a temperature increase of the showcase 110 is atemperature change for defrosting of the showcase 50, etc., the controlunit 81 does not determine this as a failure

In Step S8, the control unit 81 calculates an expected date and time ofan increase to a warning temperature. Here, the warning temperature is apredetermined temperature of a product in the showcase 50 so high as tobe unsuitable for refrigerating and freezing. For example, fresh fishand dressed meat are preserved at a set temperature of 0° C., however,from the viewpoint of product composition, at a time other than adefrosting time, if the temperature increases to be higher than 4° C.over a long period of time, the quality deteriorates. Therefore, awarning temperature for fresh fish and dressed meat is 5° C. Theexpected date and time of an increase to the warning temperature iscalculated by using, for example, a linear prediction method. The“Project values in a series” described in NPL 1 can also be used.

In Step S9, the control unit 81 notifies warning information by thenotifying means 87. The notifying means 87 notifies the warningtemperature of the showcase 50 as warning information by using lightemission from a light emitting element (LED lamp, etc.) or sound orvoice from a speaker.

The warning information includes display of the expected date and timeof the increase to the warning temperature and voice announcing theexpected date and time. By displaying the expected date and time of theincrease to the warning temperature, the degree of urgency can betransmitted in an easy-to-understand manner. Accordingly, an increase tothe warning temperature can be displayed for warning before thetemperature increase to the warning temperature. In a defrosting period,the warning display can be turned off. Depending on the degree ofurgency, warning information may be highlighted (highlighted inboldface, enlarged, or flashed with a shorter time to the expected dateand time).

In Step S10, the control unit 81 notifies the portable device 70 of thewarning temperature, and ends the processing of this flow. Before theincrease to the warning temperature, by notifying the portable device 70of a related person of the expected date and time of the increase to thewarning temperature by e-mail, the related person can be informed of thedegree of urgency of product deterioration to be caused by thetemperature increase, and the related person can make a proper responseaccording to the expected date and time. In addition, the related personcan know a failure of the freezing equipment, etc.

In the normal temperature change pattern determination (failuredetermination) in the above-described Step S7, the control unit 81 mayread out calendar information in which changes in temperature inside theshowcase 50 are accumulated from the storing unit 82 and determine atemperature change pattern based on the read-out calendar information.By using calendar information being past accumulated information, a moreaccurate failure determination is realized.

Application Example 1

The freezing machine 120 shown in FIG. 3 cools, for example, a pluralityof showcases 50. However, the freezing function of the freezing machine120 may fail. Failures of the freezing function of the freezing machine120 include the following (1) to (4). Failures are (1) a failure of amain body of the freezing machine 120, (2) a refrigerant gas leakagefrom the refrigerant pipe 30, etc., (3) a failure of the showcase mainbody 10 a (for example, a cold air leakage caused by breakage of themain body), and (4) a cooling failure due to frosting of the showcase50. When the above-described failure of the freezing function occurs,the temperature of the showcase 50 increases. In the present embodiment,the control unit 81 of the showcase control unit 18 (refer to FIG. 2)determines that the freezing function of the freezing machine 120 isfailing based on temperatures of the showcase 50 inputted over time.

The showcase 50 refrigerates and freezes products by setting a settemperature for each kind of product to maintain freshness of theproducts. If the above-described failure of the freezing functionoccurs, due to a temperature increase of the showcase 50, an accident inwhich a set temperature for the products is exceeded and the productsdeteriorate and are disposed of may occur. Conventionally, concerning atemperature increase of the showcase 50, when a set warning temperaturewas reached and a predetermined time elapsed, warning was transmitted toa security company and a related person in charge, and the securitycompany or a repair worker quickly responds to carry out a repair.However, in the current state, a response such as a repair cannot beperformed in time, so that the products are disposed of in many cases.

A specific form of temperature change and notification is described byusing a case of fresh fish and dressed meat case (showcase 50) by way ofexample.

A case set temperature of the fresh fish and dressed meat case (showcase50) is 0° C. As described above, from the viewpoint of productcomposition, if the temperature increases to be higher than 4° C. over along period of time other than a defrosting time, fresh fish and dressedmeat deteriorate in quality. Therefore, for example, a first-stagecaution-required temperature is set to 3° C., a second-stagecaution-required temperature is set to 4° C., and a warning temperatureis set to 5° C.

A case set temperature of the fresh fish and dressed meat case is 0° C.,and

(1) when the case temperature reaches 3° C., it is detected that thefirst-stage caution-required temperature has been reached,

(2) A date and time: 12:00 on March 13 when the temperature increased tothe first-stage caution-required temperature of 3° C. is detected,

(3) a subsequent increase in the case temperature to the second-stagecaution-required temperature of 4° C. at 20:00 on March 16 is detected,

(4) a time that elapsed from the first-stage caution-requiredtemperature until the second-stage caution-required temperature is 3days, 8 hours, and 0 minutes (80 hours),

(5) a temperature increase coefficient is 1° C./80 hours=0.0125°C./hour, and

(6) an expected date and time of an increase to the warning temperatureof 5° C.=second-stage caution-required temperature date and time: 20:00on March 16+(warning temperature of 5° C.-second-stage caution-requiredtemperature of 4° C.)/0.0125=20:00 on March 16+3 days, 8 hours, and 0minutes=4:00 on March 20.

In this way, the control unit 81 of the showcase control unit 18calculates the expected date and time of the increase to the warningtemperature. In the present embodiment, an expected date and time iscalculated and predicted based on dates and times of two-stagecaution-required temperatures including the first-stage caution-requiredtemperature and the second-stage caution-required temperature, however,it may be predicted based on dates and times of three- or more-stagecaution-required temperatures.

As described above, according to a requirement in terms of productcomposition, fresh fish and dressed meat deteriorate in quality when thetemperature increases to be higher than the set temperature of 4° C. ata time other than a defrosting time. Therefore, it is important to morequickly transmit information to a related person. For example, in theconventional case where warning is notified to a related person, etc.,after the warning temperature is reached, even when the related personquickly responds to an on-the-scene store, product loss occurs becauseit is not in time.

In the digital smart real showcase warning system 100, the control unit81 of the showcase control unit 18 calculates an expected date and timeof an increase to the warning temperature (an increase in temperature ofa product in the showcase 50 to a predetermined temperature so high asto be unsuitable for refrigerating or freezing). The control unit 81causes the notifying means 87 to warning-display the expected date andtime and transmit the warning information to the portable device 70.

Because notification was conventionally made after the warningtemperature was reached, even when a repair worker quickly responded tothe scene, a repair or the like was not in time and the products wereoften disposed of cases under the present circumstances.

According to the present embodiment, by displaying an expected date andtime of an increase to the warning temperature, the degree of urgencycan be transmitted in an easy-to-understand manner. That is, before theincrease to the warning temperature, a time left before an expected dateand time of an increase to the warning temperature can be displayed forwarning. By grasping this warning display (expected date and time), arelated person can make a proper response according to the degree ofurgency. For example, as in the application example described above,when a time left before the increase to the warning temperature isshort, a quick response according to the expected date and time can bemade. On the other hand, when a time left before an expected date andtime of an increase to the warning temperature is comparatively long,the degree of urgency is low, so that a comparatively slow responseaccording to the degree of urgency can be made. Generally, an urgentresponse requires a higher cost, and in this respect, the cost can bereduced.

In any case, instead of detecting an increase to the warning temperatureand then displaying this, an increase to the warning temperature isdisplayed for warning before the increase to the warning temperature, sothat a product loss due to disposal of the products can be reduced. Thiseffect is high particularly when the products are ice cream, frozenfood, fresh fish, and raw meat, etc.

Before an increase to the warning temperature, by notifying the portabledevice 70 of a related person related to maintenance, etc., of theshowcase of an expected date and time of the increase to the warningtemperature by e-mail, the related person at a remote site can bequickly informed of the degree of urgency, and the related person canmake a proper response according to the expected date and time.

In the present embodiment, deviation of the temperature of the showcase50 from the normal temperature change pattern is determined only bytemperature measurement, so that the control device or control method ofthe present embodiment can be applied to a new device different from theexisting temperature control devices. That is, the control device orcontrol method of the present embodiment can be applied to a device thatis attached to a ready-made showcase. In this case, the control deviceor control method may be applied by providing a program.

Comparison Between Present Embodiment and Patent Literatures

(1) Comparison Between Present Embodiment and PTL 2

PTL 2 describes a cooling/freezing device comprising a cooling tank thatstores a cooling fluid and cools/freezes a to-be-cooled object byimmersing the to-be-cooled object in the cooling fluid, and atemperature detector that detects a temperature of the cooling fluid inthe cooling tank, and configured so that, in order to prevent thetemperature of the cooling fluid from increasing to a warningtemperature or higher due to a failure, etc., and causing qualitydeterioration of the to-be-cooled object, so that the temperature tn ofthe cooling fluid is detected in predetermined detection periods by thetemperature detector, a predicted time T needed until the cooling fluidreaches the warning temperature tA from a detection time is calculated,and when a deviation tA-tn between the warning temperature tA and thedetected temperature tn reaches a predetermined temperature or lower dueto a failure, etc., the predicted time T is displayed on a warningpredicted time display unit (Paragraphs 0001 to 0012, FIG. 1, and FIG.2).

However, to significantly measure a temperature change amount across thedetection period AT in PTL 2, a minimum of the detection period AT mustbe secured. When this detection period AT is set to, for example, 30minutes, during this period, the displayed predicted time does notchange, so that the predicted time includes a display error of up to 30minutes as time proceeds. If the predicted time includes a display errorof up to 30 minutes, not only the reliability of displayed informationdegrades, but also a response may not be in time.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, a failure determination ismade based on the temperature of the showcase 50, and an “expected dateand time” of an increase to the warning temperature is notified afterthe failure determination, so that the above-described display error isnot included at all in principle.

(2) Comparison Between Present Embodiment and PTL 5

PTL 5 describes a delivery apparatus management system comprising atemperature sensor to detect a temperature inside a cold storage, atemperature history storing unit in which an in-chamber temperaturedetected by the temperature sensor is sequentially stored as in-chambertemperature history information, and a failure/component replacementpredicting unit that activates a notifying buzzer/notifying lamp when anin-chamber temperature curve being in-chamber temperature historyinformation of the cold storage stored in the temperature historystoring unit deviates by a certain level from an initial value(Paragraphs 0050, 0053, and 0063, FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and FIG. 16).This “initial value” is considered to be a predetermined fixed value setinitially, and a threshold for failure determination is a predeterminedfixed value.

In Paragraphs 0050 and 0053 of PTL 5, the “temperature history storingunit 15 b” is described, and in-chamber temperature history informationto be stored in this unit means an in-chamber temperature curve to beanalyzed, and is to be compared with an “initial value” (Paragraphs 0053and 0063), and this initial value is considered to be the predeterminedfixed value described above.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the control unit 81determines a failure when a difference between calendar information readout from the storing unit 82 (information in which temperature changesof the showcase 50 are accumulated) and a temperature of the showcase 50is greater than a predetermined value. That is, a failure is determinedby comparing a current temperature with a past temperature record value,and a variable value of past records is used as a threshold for failuredetermination. Therefore, when the temperature tends to slightlyincrease as in a time period with an increase in the number ofcustomers, the threshold of the failure determination also rises, sothat erroneous warning can be prevented, and accurate failuredetermination is realized.

[Energy-Saving Control Operation Based on Outdoor Air TemperaturePrediction]

Next, an energy-saving control operation of the digital smart realshowcase warning system 100 is described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an energy-saving control operation of thedigital smart real showcase warning system 100.

First, in Step S11, the outdoor air temperature input unit 11 inputsoutdoor air temperature information from the outdoor thermometer 20installed outdoors.

In Step S12, the outdoor air temperature input unit 11 stores theoutdoor air temperature information in the outdoor air temperature table12.

In Step S13, the outdoor air temperature predicting unit 13 predicts afuture outdoor air temperature from a current outdoor air temperatureand past outdoor air temperature changes, and passes the predictedoutdoor air temperature to the showcase control unit 18 and the airconditioning control unit 19.

When adopting the above-described <<past data-using prediction method>>,the outdoor air temperature predicting unit 13 stores, for example,outdoor air temperatures over the past one year in the outdoor airtemperature table 12 in advance, and predicts an outdoor air temperatureby reading out the stored outdoor air temperature as an outdoor airtemperature predicted value. The prediction is performed with respect tothe current outdoor air temperature. The outdoor air temperaturepredicting unit 13 predicts how the temperature will change (increase ordecrease, and the degree of the increase or decrease) in the future (inhow many minutes) on the basis of the current outdoor air temperature.The outdoor air temperature predicting unit 13 may predict an outdoorair temperature by using the above-described <<external data-usingprediction method>>.

In Step S14, the indoor temperature input unit 14 (refer to FIG. 1)inputs indoor temperature information from a measured value of theindoor thermometer 30.

In Step S15, the indoor humidity input unit 15 (refer to FIG. 1) inputsindoor humidity information from a measured value of the indoorhygrometer 40.

In Step S16, the indoor enthalpy predicting unit 17 calculates anenthalpy (a total wet air heating value of indoor air) from the inputtedindoor temperature and indoor humidity, and stores the calculatedenthalpy in the indoor enthalpy table 16.

In Step S17, the indoor enthalpy predicting unit 17 predicts a futureindoor enthalpy from a current indoor enthalpy and past indoor enthalpychanges stored in the indoor enthalpy table 16.

In Step S18, the showcase control unit 18 controls the showcase 50 basedon the predicted outdoor air temperature and the predicted indoorenthalpy. The showcase control unit 18 controls the showcase 50 based onthe predicted outdoor air temperature and the predicted indoor enthalpythat are future predicted values, so that a quick and proper showcasecontrol is realized. In the present embodiment, the showcase controlunit 18 uses not only the predicted outdoor air temperature but also theprediction control according to a length of the refrigerant pipe 130 incombination, so that a quicker and more proper showcase control isrealized.

In Step S18, the air conditioning control unit 19 controls the airconditioner 60 based on the predicted outdoor air temperature and thepredicted indoor enthalpy, and ends the processing of this flow. The airconditioning control unit 19 controls the air conditioner 60 based onthe predicted outdoor air temperature and the predicted indoor enthalpythat are future predicted values, so that a quick and proper airconditioning control is realized.

In this way, the digital smart real showcase warning system 100 predictsan indoor enthalpy as well as an outdoor air temperature, and controlsthe showcase 50 based on the predicted outdoor air temperature andindoor enthalpy.

In the present embodiment, the showcase 50 is controlled based on anoutdoor air temperature not by following an outdoor air temperature butbased on an outdoor air temperature predicted in advance, so that theshowcase 50 is quickly and properly controlled, and accordingly, theshowcase 50 can be controlled with minimum necessary energy.

Further, an indoor enthalpy is predicted as well as an outdoor airtemperature, and the showcase 50 is controlled based on the predictedoutdoor air temperature and indoor enthalpy, so that by reflecting anestimation result of a predicted heat load in showcase control, a highlyeffective energy-saving control is realized.

TABLE 1 Outdoor air Outdoor air temperature Enthalpy Operation ControlControl Time temperature +bias coefficient Enthalpy coefficientcoefficient coefficient minute  1:00 25.1 28.1 0.78 57.6 1.04 0.51 0.299  2:00 24.8 27.8 0.78 57.6 1.04 0.51 0.30 9  3:00 24.6 27.6 0.77 56.71.02 0.50 0.30 9  4:00 24.6 27.6 0.77 57.1 1.03 0.50 0.30 9  5:00 24.227.2 0.76 56.6 1.02 0.49 0.31 9  6:00 24.9 27.9 0.78 56.5 1.02 0.50 0.309  7:00 27.0 30.0 0.84 56.2 1.01 0.54 0.28 8  8:00 28.1 31.1 0.88 55.81.01 0.56 0.27 8 22:00 27.0 30.0 0.84 46.5 0.84 0.45 0.33 10 23:00 26.929.9 0.84 48.5 0.88 0.46 0.32 10 24:00 26.6 29.6 0.83 55.7 1.01 0.530.28 9 Avr. 25.8 28.8 0.81 55.0 0.99 0.50 0.30 9  9:00 29.4 32.4 0.9259.8 1.08 0.63 0.22 7 10:00 31.0 34.0 0.97 59.5 1.07 0.66 0.21 6 11:0031.5 34.5 0.98 57.4 1.04 0.64 0.21 6 12:00 32.9 35.9 1.03 56.8 1.02 0.660.20 6 13:00 33.5 36.5 1.05 54.8 0.99 0.65 0.21 6 14:00 33.9 36.9 1.0650.9 0.92 0.61 0.23 7 15:00 32.9 35.9 1.03 50.1 0.90 0.59 0.25 7 16:0033.2 36.2 1.04 50.9 0.92 0.60 0.24 7 17:00 32.3 35.3 1.01 47.0 0.85 0.540.28 8 18:00 30.4 33.4 0.95 48.2 0.87 0.52 0.29 9 19:00 29.2 32.2 0.9146.4 0.84 0.48 0.31 9 20:00 28.1 31.1 0.88 45.6 0.82 0.46 0.33 10 21:0027.4 30.4 0.86 43.3 0.78 0.42 0.35 10 Avr. 31.2 34.2 0.98 51.6 0.93 0.570.26 8 Ag. Av 28.5 31.5 0.89 53.3 0.96 0.54 0.28 8 Avr.: Average Ag.Av.: Aggregate average

Application Example 2

Next, an application example of an energy-saving control operation basedon outdoor air temperature prediction is described.

Table 1 shows an example of outdoor air temperatures, enthalpies, eachcoefficient, and control minutes to be stored in the outdoor airtemperature table 12 and the indoor enthalpy table 16 (storing means).Table 1 stores hourly outdoor temperatures (° C.), +biases (° C.),outdoor air temperature coefficients, enthalpies (kJ/kg D.A.), enthalpycoefficients, operation coefficients, control coefficients, and controlminutes. For example, the coefficients are according to the hourlyoutdoor air temperatures and indoor air wet heating value enthalpies(kJ/kG D.A.).

Table 1 is referred to at the time of prediction by the outdoor airtemperature predicting unit 13 and the indoor enthalpy predicting unit17.

As the outdoor air temperature (° C.) in Table 1, in the presentembodiment, a predicted outdoor air temperature is used (hereinafter, asan outdoor air temperature, a predicted outdoor air temperature isused).

The +bias (° C.) in Table 1 is outdoor air temperature+condenser biastemperature (for example, in Table 1, 3.0). This +bias is a bias whenconsidering that a temperature around the condenser is high.

The outdoor air temperature coefficient in Table 1 is outdoor airtemperature/reference outdoor air temperature (for example, in Table 1,32.0).

The enthalpy (kJ/kg D.A.) in Table 1 is calculated from an indoortemperature and an indoor humidity (refer to Step S16 in FIG. 5).

The enthalpy coefficient in Table 1 is enthalpy/reference enthalpy (forexample, in Table 1, 55.42).

The operation coefficient in Table 1 is outdoor air temperaturecoefficient x enthalpy coefficient x reference operation coefficient(for example, in Table 1, 0.63).

The control coefficient in Table 1 is (1−operation coefficient)×safetyfactor (for example, in Table 1, 0.60).

The control minutes in Table 1 is control coefficient x referencecontrol minute (for example, in Table 1, 30). The control minute is anumeral representing, by setting 30 minutes as a unit time, for how manyminutes the operation of the freezing machine 120 is to be stopped, thatis, the solenoid valve 113 is closed, in the unit time. For example, “9”means that operation is stopped for 9 minutes within 30 minutes forenergy saving. During closing of the store, energy is greatly saved, andduring opening of the store, small energy is saved.

The air conditioning control unit 19 shown in FIG. 1 performs anenergy-saving control of the air conditioner 60 by an amount (controlminute) corresponding to a control rate. For example, when the controlrate is 0.40, operation of the air conditioner 60 is stopped by 40% in apredetermined pattern, or the air conditioner 60 is inverter-controlledwith electric power as much as 60% of a rated power usage.

In this way, in the present embodiment, after the energy-saving controlof the air conditioner 60 in a salesroom in which the showcase 50 isinstalled, the air conditioner 60 is further controlled so as to preventexcessive operation of the showcase control, and accordingly, a freezingor refrigerating burden on the showcase 50 is reduced, and thiseventually greatly contributes to overall energy-saving of the storeincluding the showcase 50.

[Showcase Control Operation of Showcase Control Unit 18]

<<Basic Control>>

The showcase control unit 18 is installed for, for example, eachshowcase 50, and performs a control for cooling to a target temperaturesuitable for products displayed on store shelves. The showcase controlunit 18 may collectively control a plurality of showcases 50.

The showcase control unit 18 consists of a CPU (Central Processing Unit)or the like, and the CPU is made to function as a digital smart realshowcase warning system by executing a showcase control program.

By detecting a temperature of the showcase 50 and controlling openingand closing of the solenoid valve 113 of the freezing machine 120 sothat the detected temperature becomes close to a target temperature, theshowcase control unit 18 performs a control to maintain the temperatureof the showcase 50 at a temperature within a certain range (a targettemperature between a lower limit temperature and an upper limittemperature) suitable for preservation of products (for example, frozenfood). A cooling temperature inside the showcase 50 differs depending onthe kind of stored product, and is set for each showcase 50. Forexample, the cooling temperature is set to 7° C. for fruits andvegetables, 5° C. for daily foods (generic term of foods that need to berefrigerated and have short expiration date), 0° C. for fresh fish anddressed meat, −18° C. for frozen food, and −26° C. for ice cream.

Further, the showcase control unit 18 controls the operation of theshowcase 50 by a temperature-dependent control coefficient being acontrol coefficient corresponding to deviation of the temperature of theshowcase 50 from the target temperature. Specifically, for example, whenproducts are fruits and vegetables, the target temperature is set to 7°C., a permissible temperature range is ±4° C., and the controlcoefficient is 0.35, by defining a deviating temperature coefficient as(showcase temperature (° C.)−target temperature (7° C.))/permissibletemperature range (4° C.), the showcase 50 is controlled for energysaving by temperature-dependent control coefficient=control coefficient(0.35)−(control coefficient (0.35)×deviating temperature coefficient).For example, when the temperature of the showcase 50 is 3° C., thedeviating temperature coefficient is −1=(3−7)/4, and thetemperature-dependent control coefficient is 0.70=0.35+(0.35×1),

when the temperature of the showcase 50 is 4° C., the deviatingtemperature coefficient is −0.75=(4−7)/4, and the temperature-dependentcontrol coefficient is 0.61=0.35+(0.35×0.75),

when the temperature of the showcase 50 is 5° C., the deviatingtemperature coefficient is −0.5=(5−7)/4, and the temperature-dependentcontrol coefficient is 0.53=0.35+(0.35×0.5),

when the temperature of the showcase 50 is 6° C., the deviatingtemperature coefficient is −0.25=(6−7)/4, and the temperature-dependentcontrol coefficient is 0.44=0.35+(0.35×0.25),

when the temperature of the showcase 50 is 7° C., the deviatingtemperature coefficient is 0=(7−7)/4, and the temperature-dependentcontrol coefficient is 0.35=0.35−(0.35×0),

when the temperature of the showcase 50 is 8° C., the deviatingtemperature coefficient is 0.25=(8−7)/4, and the temperature-dependentcontrol coefficient is 0.26=0.35−(0.35×0.25),

when the temperature of the showcase 50 is 9° C., the deviatingtemperature coefficient is 0.5=(9−7)/4, and the temperature-dependentcontrol coefficient is 0.18=0.35−(0.35×0.5),

when the temperature of the showcase 50 is 10° C., the deviatingtemperature coefficient is 0.75=(10−7)/4, and the temperature-dependentcontrol coefficient is 0.09=0.35−(0.35×0.75), and

when the temperature of the showcase 50 is 11° C., the deviatingtemperature coefficient is 1=(11−7)/4, and the temperature-dependentcontrol coefficient is 0=0.35−(0.35×1).

In addition to the above-described basic control, the control unit 81 ofthe showcase control unit 18 may perform a control to calculate anexpected date and time of an increase to the warning temperature andnotify the expected date and time.

<<Prediction Control According to Length of Refrigerant Pipe 130>>

Next, a prediction control operation according to a length of therefrigerant pipe 130 is described.

The showcase control unit 18 controls the showcase 50 based on apredicted outdoor air temperature for a time, corresponding to a lengthof the refrigerant pipe 130, ahead (future). Specifically, the controlis as follows.

The refrigerant pipe 130 shown in FIG. 2, connecting the showcase 50 andthe condenser 122, has a length of several to several tens of meters.Therefore, a control result by the showcase control unit 18 is notimmediately reflected in the showcase 50, and a delay from a predictedoutdoor air temperature, corresponding to the length of the refrigerantpipe 30, occurs. Here, the length of the refrigerant pipe 130 is alreadyknown for each showcase 50.

The showcase control unit 18 performs a prediction control to eliminatethe delay from the predicted outdoor air temperature, corresponding tothe length of the refrigerant pipe 130. Specifically, the showcasecontrol unit 18 controls the showcase 50 based on a predicted outdoorair temperature for a time, corresponding to the length of therefrigerant pipe 130, ahead (future). That is, the showcase control unit18 determines prediction time intervals (how many minutes later theprediction is for). As a result, the control timing differs depending onthe length of the refrigerant pipe 130.

Here, there is also a case where a plurality of showcases 50 arecontrolled by one condenser 122. In this case, the showcase control unit18 controls the showcase 50 based on a predicted outdoor air temperaturefor a time, corresponding to an average length of the refrigerant pipes130 for the plurality of showcases 50, ahead.

<<Bias Outdoor Air Temperature Control by Adding Prediction Bias OutdoorAir Temperature to Predicted Outdoor Air Temperature>>

The showcase control unit 18 performs a bias outdoor air temperaturecontrol by adding a prediction bias outdoor air temperature to apredicted outdoor air temperature. A temperature around the compressor121 shown in FIG. 2 is high, and is normally higher than an outdoor airtemperature that a meteorological agency issued. The showcase controlunit 18 controls the showcase 50 around the compressor 121 based on apredicted outdoor air temperature obtained by adding a prediction biasoutdoor air temperature to a predicted outdoor air temperature.

In this way, the showcase control unit 18 predicts an outdoor airtemperature for a time (for example, 5 minutes or 3 minutes, etc.),corresponding to a length of the refrigerant pipe 130, ahead (future),adds a prediction bias temperature to the predicted outdoor airtemperature, and stops the operation of the freezing machine 120 for acontrol minute (units: minutes) corresponding to the predicted outdoorair temperature to which the prediction bias temperature is added. Theshowcase control unit 18 repeats temperature addition and operationstoppage of the freezing machine 120 according to the “predictioncontrol according to length of refrigerant pipe 130” and the “biasoutdoor air temperature control.”

In addition to the prediction control according to the length of therefrigerant pipe and bias outdoor air temperature control describedabove, the control unit 81 of the showcase control unit 18 may use acontrol to calculate an expected date and time of an increase to thewarning temperature and notify the expected date and time.

As described above, the digital smart real showcase warning system. 100comprises the outdoor air temperature table 12 that stores past outdoorair temperatures for prediction of an outdoor air temperature, theoutdoor air temperature predicting unit 13 that predicts a futurepredicted outdoor air temperature from inputted outdoor air temperatureinformation based on the outdoor air temperature table 12, and theshowcase control unit 18 that controls the showcase temperature based onthe predicted outdoor air temperature.

In a conventional example, an outdoor air temperature was detected andfed-back, so that a follow-up control was performed, and a quick andproper control could not be performed. On the other hand, in the presentembodiment, the showcase is controlled not by following an outdoor airtemperature but based on an outdoor air temperature predicted inadvance, so that the showcase is quickly and properly controlled, andaccordingly, the showcase can be controlled with necessary minimumenergy.

In addition, the showcase control unit 18 predicts a predicted outdoorair temperature for a time, corresponding to the length of therefrigerant pipe 130, ahead, from inputted outdoor air temperatureinformation, and controls the temperature of the showcase 50 based onthe predicted outdoor air temperature.

Accordingly, the showcase can be controlled based on a predicted outdoorair temperature for a time, corresponding to the length of therefrigerant pipe, ahead (future), so that the showcase is quickly andproperly controlled, and accordingly, the showcase can be controlledwith necessary minimum energy.

In addition, the digital smart real showcase warning system 100comprises the indoor enthalpy predicting unit 17 that calculates anenthalpy being a total wet air heating value of indoor air based oninputted temperature and humidity of indoor air, and predicts a futureindoor enthalpy based on the calculated indoor air enthalpy and pastindoor enthalpies stored in the indoor enthalpy table 16, and theshowcase control unit 18 that controls the showcase temperature based onthe predicted indoor enthalpy.

Accordingly, an indoor enthalpy is predicted, and based on the predictedoutdoor air temperature and indoor enthalpy, the showcase is controlled,so that by reflecting an estimation result of a predicted heat load inshowcase control, a highly effective energy-saving control is realized.

For this indoor enthalpy prediction, a predicted outdoor air temperaturemay be considered. An indoor temperature is influenced by an outdoor airtemperature through a building. That is, as the outdoor air temperaturechanges, after the elapse of a predetermined time, the indoortemperature changes under the influence of the outdoor air temperaturechange. Therefore, by adding a predicted outdoor air temperature as afactor for prediction of an indoor enthalpy, a more accurate predictionis realized.

The description given above is the illustration of a preferredembodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the presentinvention is not limited to this, but includes other modifications andapplication examples without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention described in the claims.

In the present embodiment, both of the outdoor air temperatureprediction by the outdoor air temperature predicting unit 13 and theshowcase control based on a predicted outdoor air temperature accordingto a length of the refrigerant pipe 130 by the showcase control unit 18are used, however, either one may be used. Likewise, the bias outdoorair temperature control by the showcase control unit 18 may also be usedalone, or may be combined with both or either one of the above-describedoutdoor air temperature prediction and showcase control.

The above-described embodiment examples describe the present inventionin detail in an understandable way, and the present invention is notnecessarily limited to one comprising all configurations describedabove. Part of a configuration of an embodiment example can be replacedby a configuration of another embodiment example, and to a configurationof an embodiment example, a configuration of another embodiment examplecan be added. Part of a configuration of each embodiment example can besubjected to addition of other configurations, deletion, andreplacement.

The present embodiment is an example of application to an airconditioning warning system, and an air conditioning control is notessential for the present invention. In the present embodiment, forconvenience of description, the respective control means, that is, theair conditioning control unit 19 (control means) and the showcasecontrol unit 18 (control means) are described separately, however, thecontrols may be performed by one control unit. Likewise, each table maybe stored in any medium as a storing unit.

The showcase may be a case having a freezer-refrigerator function. Theshowcase includes a refrigerator and a freezer. That is, the showcase isused for convenience of description, and may be a storage for frozen andrefrigerated products that do not necessarily have to be shown topeople, and also with this, the same effect can be obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, the names specified as a digitalsmart real showcase warning system and a digital smart real showcasewarning method are used, however, these are used for convenience ofdescription, and the name of the system may be a showcase controldevice, and the name of the method may be a showcase control andmanagement method, etc.

The present digital smart real showcase control processing describedabove is also realized by a program for functioning this main digitalsmart real showcase control processing. This program is stored in acomputer-readable storage medium. The storage medium in which thisprogram is recorded may be a ROM itself of this digital smart realshowcase warning system, or a CD-ROM or the like that can be read bybeing inserted in a program reading device such as a CD-ROM driveprovided as an external storage device.

The storage medium may be a magnetic tape, a cassette tape, a flexibledisk, a hard disk, and an MO/MD/DVD, etc., or a semiconductor memory.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The digital smart real showcase warning system, method, and programaccording to the present invention bring about great usage effects bybeing applied to showcases, etc., in a supermarket and a conveniencestore, etc.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   11 Outdoor air temperature input unit (outdoor air temperature    inputting means)-   12 Outdoor air temperature table (storing means)-   13 Outdoor air temperature predicting unit (outdoor air temperature    predicting means)-   14 Indoor temperature input unit (indoor temperature inputting    means)-   15 Indoor humidity input unit (indoor humidity inputting means)-   16 Indoor enthalpy table (storing means)-   17 Indoor enthalpy predicting unit (indoor enthalpy predicting    means)-   18 Showcase control unit (control means)-   19 Air conditioning control unit (control means)-   20 Outdoor thermometer-   30 Indoor thermometer-   40 Indoor hygrometer-   50 Showcase-   50 a Showcase main body-   60 Air conditioner-   70 Portable device (terminal device)-   80 Control device-   81 Control unit (temperature inputting means, failure determining    means, calculating means)-   82 Storing unit (storing means)-   83 Input unit-   84 Display unit-   85 Communication unit-   86 Interface (I/F) unit (temperature inputting means)-   87 Notifying means-   100 Digital smart real showcase warning system-   110 b Machine room-   111 Air outlet-   112 Air inlet-   113 Solenoid valve-   114 Expansion valve-   115 Fan motor-   116 Cooler-   117 Shelf plate (store shelf)-   118 Bottom plate (store shelf)-   120 Freezing machine-   121 Compressor-   122 Condenser-   123 Condenser cooling fan-   130 Refrigerant pipe-   131 Temperature sensor

1. A digital smart real showcase warning system comprising: atemperature inputting means configured to input a temperature inside thechamber of a showcase, a refrigerator, or a freezer (hereinafter,referred to as a “showcase or the like”) over time; a storing meansconfigure to store calendar information n which changes in thetemperature are accumulated; a failure determining means configured todetermine the showcase or the like to be failing when a differencebetween the calendar information read out from the storing means and thetemperature is greater than a predetermined value; a calculating meansthat calculates an expected date and time of an increase in temperatureof a product in chamber of the showcase or the like to a warningtemperature being a predetermined temperature so high as to beunsuitable for refrigerating or freezing when the failure determiningmeans determines a failure; and a notifying means that notifies warninginformation including the expected date and time calculated by thecalculating means.
 2. The digital smart real showcase warning systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising: an outdoor air temperatureinputting means that inputs outdoor air temperature information; anoutdoor air temperature predicting means that predicts a futurepredicted outdoor air temperature from outdoor air temperatureinformation inputted by the outdoor air temperature inputting means; anda control means that controls a showcase temperature based on thepredicted outdoor air temperature predicted by the outdoor airtemperature predicting means.
 3. The digital smart real showcase warningsystem according to claim 1, wherein when the temperature deviates froma normal temperature change pattern, the failure determining meansdetermines that the showcase or the like is failing.
 4. The digitalsmart real showcase warning system according to claim 1, wherein when anincrease in the temperature is a change in temperature caused bydefrosting in the showcase or the like, the failure determining meansdoes not determine the temperature increase as a failure.
 5. (canceled)6. The digital smart real showcase warning system according to claim 1,wherein the notifying means transmits the warning information to aterminal device that a person who maintains the showcase or the like cankeep with him/her.
 7. A digital smart real showcase warning methodcomprising: a temperature inputting step of inputting a temperatureinside the chamber of a showcase or the like over time; a storing stepof storing calendar information in which changes in the temperature areaccumulated; a failure determining step of determining that the showcaseor the like is failing when a difference between the calendarinformation ready out by the storing step and the temperature is greaterthan a predetermined value; a calculating step of calculating anexpected date and time of an increase in temperature of a product inchamber of the showcase or the like to a warning temperature being apredetermined temperature so high as to be unsuitable for refrigeratingor freezing when the failure determining step determines a failure; anda notifying step of notifying warning information including the expecteddate and time calculated by the calculating step.
 8. (canceled)
 9. Atangible non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, thecomputer-readable storage medium is configured to store a programexecutable by a digital smart real showcase warning system, the digitalsmart real showcase warning system upon execution of the program isconfigured to perform the digital smart real showcase warning method ofclaim 7.